Drunk Driver Forces Family to Deal with Loss

On Betty Linxwiler's car is a Mother's Against Drunk Driving (MADD) bumper sticker.

Glen and Betty Linxwiler of Woodbine, GA have empathy with the organization. (Source: Dalton Sirmans)

Their 18-year-old daughter, Christina was killed in a head-on collision by a drunk driver in Nov. 1987. Christina was traveling on Osborne Street on her way to work at Gilman Hospital's nursing home when she was struck at 10:30 p.m. by the driver who had been drinking all day. The Linxwilers said it wasn't clear whether the driver was leaving the depot or a beer joint on Crooked River when she struck Christina's car.

The driver's car came across the dividing line and hit Christina's car head-on. A male who was following the driver witnessed the collision 100 yards from the WKBX radio station.

After their daughter was killed the couple contacted the Brunswick chapter of MADD.

"They certainly were interested," Glen said. They offered literature, emotional support, and volunteered to to go the trial with us."

The Harriett's Bluff woman who was driving the car that killed Christina was sentenced to four years in prison for second-degree vehicular homicide but the fact that the woman was drunk was not addressed tin court, said Glen.

The woman was also driving on a revoked license and was a repeat offender who had several traffic violations.

"That thing that was a little disturbing to me about the whole process was I thought using the MADD name would have some impact (on the case). It really didn't," said Glen.

He said after the trial, which took a year, he approached the district attorney who he had talked to before the trial. He said the attorney was aware that MADD was involved in the case to some degree and that he was aiming for a 15-year sentence or at least ten.